14 yr old wants to do nothing

[Anonymous]

At 14 I was a junior counselor at a day camp. My parents wouldn't have allowed me to sit at home all day watching TV...

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is advocating sitting around and doing nothing. But kids should be able to entertain themselves and have fun over the summer. Teens complain they are bored all the time, doesn't mean they really are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone is advocating sitting around and doing nothing. But kids should be able to entertain themselves and have fun over the summer. Teens complain they are bored all the time, doesn't mean they really are.

I think OP's title indicates that the 14 yr olds are advocating for sitting around and doing nothing.

[Anonymous]

I don't think kids should always sot around and do nothing in the summer. But, I don't think they need to be so scheduled either.

[Anonymous]

my kid would not leave the house if I didn’t make him go outside or take him somewhere with me. His core friends are all either at speciality or overnight camps or on vacation and he makes no effort to do anything. He does not want to do random camps by himself. I’m trying to be understanding as I’ve come to the realization that although I would love to allow my dc to have an 80s style summer like the ones I had, it just isn’t possible because everyone else’s kids are scheduled. Thankfully we have a few vacations scheduled and then pre season will start.

[Anonymous]

Mine is in a 3 week day camp and volunteering at a camp for 2 weeks. The rest of the time is either unscheduled or vacation. He also has a ton of summer homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't enroll them in camp, what are they supposed to do? They can't get a job.

As long as (a few easy) chores are done, their rooms are clean, and they get up and dressed by 11 am my teens can do pretty much whatever they want when they're not at camp or on family vacation. The school year is so hectic and stressful they deserve the down time. DD has been watching a lot of British Bake-off. DS does who knows what on the internet, but he's also more likely to want to hang out with friends. I try to be available in the evenings to take them to the movies or to friends' since they can't drive yet.

I remember the pressure to make summer great and always being disappointed when it was hard to meet up with friends and make plans happen and being sad about it and feeling lame and friendless. I don't want my kids to feel that pressure or be bummed out that they're not on exciting summer adventures every day.

They can get a job at 14. I had one. You need a workers permit with your parents permission.

This. Add yard work and other work around the house, summer reading, community pool/rec center with friends. Sitting on electronic devices all day is not an option, at least not at my house.

[Anonymous]

See this is so foreign to me. I know he's a teen, but a young one. Not wanting to even go outside? Strange to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't enroll them in camp, what are they supposed to do? They can't get a job.

As long as (a few easy) chores are done, their rooms are clean, and they get up and dressed by 11 am my teens can do pretty much whatever they want when they're not at camp or on family vacation. The school year is so hectic and stressful they deserve the down time. DD has been watching a lot of British Bake-off. DS does who knows what on the internet, but he's also more likely to want to hang out with friends. I try to be available in the evenings to take them to the movies or to friends' since they can't drive yet.

I remember the pressure to make summer great and always being disappointed when it was hard to meet up with friends and make plans happen and being sad about it and feeling lame and friendless. I don't want my kids to feel that pressure or be bummed out that they're not on exciting summer adventures every day.

I had two jobs the summer I was 14 - I worked at a town day camp that was free to campers and at an ice cream store.

But when was the last time you saw a 14 year old working anywhere that his family didn’t own? Around here, there is enough unskilled adult labor available year round that no one wants to deal with kids who are around for 2.5 months and gone for 1-2 of those on a family vacation. Not even fast food

My kids work at the pool- front desk (14) and lifeguard (16). Other kids that age work at local camps or doing yard work or volunteering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See this is so foreign to me. I know he's a teen, but a young one. Not wanting to even go outside? Strange to me.

My teens go outside to meet up with friends, but they do it as they like rather than being forced to spend hours outside on a hot steamy day like they do at camp.

[Anonymous]

Oh i didn't mean that thry don't at all. But the forced thing is strange to me. You'd think they'd want to enjoy their last summer they probably have to be a free kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 y.o. works as a math instructor at the kids' math center she had graduated from. She is very good at math and loves her job - works for about 20 hours a week.

I think that's really great! Does she get paid for that?

Yes, the minimum wage. As she gets more experienced, she can become a private math tutor and set up her own rate.

[Anonymous]

At 15, my DD took a for-credit course at Montgomery College in a subject she was really interested in. She also had play practice in the evenings and was busy with performances the last few weekends in July. We spent a week at the beach. It was a great summer.

At 14, I remember a week-long service camp (sleepaway). I think that we also did a couple of other week-long camps (writing and something else). Look into the camp options at Montgomery College. They're fantastic and not too expensive. YMCA has some nice sports camps. Could she get certified as a lifeguard, so she'll at least have some options next summer??? What are her interests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't enroll them in camp, what are they supposed to do? They can't get a job.

As long as (a few easy) chores are done, their rooms are clean, and they get up and dressed by 11 am my teens can do pretty much whatever they want when they're not at camp or on family vacation. The school year is so hectic and stressful they deserve the down time. DD has been watching a lot of British Bake-off. DS does who knows what on the internet, but he's also more likely to want to hang out with friends. I try to be available in the evenings to take them to the movies or to friends' since they can't drive yet.

I remember the pressure to make summer great and always being disappointed when it was hard to meet up with friends and make plans happen and being sad about it and feeling lame and friendless. I don't want my kids to feel that pressure or be bummed out that they're not on exciting summer adventures every day.

They can get a job at 14. I had one. You need a workers permit with your parents permission.

Who hires 14 year olds these days?

Me!!! Please!! I need someone to come over and play with my toddler while I do laundry, shower, pay bills, answer emails etc. A 14 year old would be perfect for this!

[Anonymous]

Sleeping, playing video games, and eating. Occasionally I'll see him get in the pool and float around with his earbuds. He has three weeks of marching band camp in August. And a JROTC leadership camp for a few days at the end of the summer. We will take a couple of little trips over the next few weeks. But mostly he is sleeping, playing games, and eating everything in the house. He is our youngest. We have always been into laid back summer vacations at our house.